First Fridays in downtown Muskegon are on a hiatus. There are no First Fridays planned this week (Friday April 6) through the rest of the year.

Downtown Muskegon Now has economic development and promotional efforts under way for downtown that do not include producing events. As a tiny agency, a change in a staff position also derailed First Fridays this year. The First Friday events outside of three or four in the heart of the summer season have not generated enough people to make them effective to produce. The event series has not attracted a lead sponsor.

Thus, DMN is taking a break with First Fridays but that doesn't have to be permanent. There is still time to produce a First Friday or two this summer. Chalk the Walk will return for the Lakeshore Art Festival Friday July 6. We would love to have a Street Performer and Touch the Truck event later in the summer.

But a serious question with all of the events, development and activities downtown, do we need to encourage downtown activity on Friday evenings? How about another day of the week?

If there is anyone who wants to champion First Fridays or discuss its future, please contact Dave Alexander, executive director of Downtown Muskegon Now. Email him at dalexander@downtownmuskegon.org.

In the meantime, thanks for all those who created, worked on and attended First Fridays. ... See MoreSee Less

This is really too bad. Emerging downtowns as well as established have seen a version of First Friday’s as beneficial to the growth of their community. Bringing a different audience to the developing Downtown has layers of benefits.
Hopefully DMN changes their focus to developing a fully inclusive and fully integrated downtown.

Fridays are a good night because most folks do not work on the weekends. It would be fun to do a date night event, either with your significant other or friends where you go to different places downtown, that are within walking distant, free samples of food and drinks plus a punch card that you can get filled out and bring back for a prize!

9 months ago · 5

I’d love to help out and make this still happen. We went every Friday. Even to the touch the truck in the rain 🙂.

9 months ago · 5

So we were planning playing at Street Performers in June and September.....sounds like we should make other plans?

9 months ago

Lakeshore Museum CenterThe Lakeshore Museum Center will continue hosting our Friday Family Fun Nights which are free of charge to Muskegon County residents and Museum Members! April 20th is a Michigan Fossils theme and June 1 is a Pollinator Garden Party!

I did the face painting for 3 of the street performer 1st Fridays and I don’t see how it wasn’t a complete hit! Downtown packed with families on random friday nights, Party in the Park overflowing into the streets and being even that more family friendly. People were excited and very kind. It was a lot of fun and had room to grow.

This is unfortunate. Parties in the Park is fun, but First Fridays is more family friendly, and had interesting variety.

9 months ago · 3

As far as I’m concerned Muskegon is a dying town. Why do almost businesses close at 5 except the bars and restaurants. Lakes mall looks barron. Major retailers like barnes and noble look like they are scraping by everytime I go. There’s nothing innovative to stimulate the mind. How many bars/breweries can this town have. Good luck w the developments attracting younger people to the area

That is too bad..The times I've been downtown on Fridays it seemed well attended. For things to gain traction in a community you have to give it time to build momentum or to change the format to fit the need of the community. It seems to me that Muskegon sometimes has a historical track if it doesn't work or not as successful the first time around as expected it goes away. 🙁

I would say a different evening or maybe a Saturday afternoon. (Second Saturday)

9 months ago · 1

Hey, all! Just wanted to give my two-cents real quick. For the year of 2017, I was the event coordinator for First Fridays. My position with DMN was part time, which included many other responsibilities that extended beyond First Fridays. Being an event director that has to coordinate and host 10+ events a year while working on other projects is just not feasible while part time. I absolutely loved how great First Fridays was at bringing such an amazing crowd downtown (my favorite night was the 100+ people who came to touch the trucks in the cold, nasty rain 💖).
I worked with so many amazing people and saw so many great guests come downtown. You’re all correct, it was very well attended in the summer. Shoulder months were difficult though. Especially not being able to solidify any sponsors.
I would absolutely love to see this event grow and succeed, but it needs more than just one half time employee.
I also am disheartened by all of the comments with negativity towards Muskegon. Our county, and our city, is doing so much and we are succeeding at a lot of those things. Please keep in mind all of the great things continuing to happen 🤗

Easy folks. Read the post please. First Fridays is taking a break. DMN will not go forward with an event in which the community wouldn't be proud. Right now with everything happening in the downtown, this is not the top priority with our limited resources. We need to step back, re-evaluate and see what makes sense for a series of events downtown. I loved the vibe First Fridays created downtown. We need to replicate that with a family-oriented event that is sustainable. Please contact me if you want to be part of that evaluation and moving First Fridays forward.